Study involving 500 participants

The German study began in 1992 and included 500 volunteers between the ages of 35 and 80. The participants regularly underwent a series of medical examinations (measuring height, weight, body composition, EKG and lung function). In addition, they had to perform fitness and motor skill tests — including sit-ups, one-leg stands and push-ups.

10 years younger and fewer health problems

The result: people in advanced age who exercise regularly are around 10 years younger in terms of motor skills than those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. The KIT study says, for instance, that a 50-year-old who exercises regularly is as fit as an inactive 40-year-old. Active people also tend to have fewer physical complaints with advancing age. In fact, those who do less than 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity per week, as recommended by the World Health Organisation WHO, are four times more likely to suffer from Type 2 diabetes.

In sum, we can say that…

fitness and motor skills decline with age. Exercise, however, can slow this process down significantly.

more exercise also means more quality of life in old age.

active people are 10 years younger than sedentary people in terms of motor skills.